Poor Richard's Almanack

About the book

Beginning in 1732 with an almanac for 1733, Franklin used Poor Richard to circulate practical maxims and adapted wisdom; the series continued through 1758 and later supplied the model for the almanacs associated with Charlie Munger and Naval Ravikant.

Why read it

Best if you want the original Franklin source behind the industry, frugality, simplicity, incentive, and aphoristic-writing themes David connects to Munger and later almanacs.

Evidence and original sources

This record is supported by 6 public evidence rows linked to original Founders episodes.

• Ben Franklin: An American Life — David describes Poor Richard's Almanack as one of Franklin's extraordinarily successful publishing products and explains that Franklin adapted wisdom from many ages into memorable maxims rather than claiming every saying as original.
• Warren Buffett (The Making of an American Capitalist) — David reads a comparison of Warren Buffett's topical, practical shareholder letters to a Harvard Business School syllabus delivered in the spirit of Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack.
• Naval Ravikant (A Guide to Wealth and Happiness) — David traces the title and aphoristic form of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant through Poor Charlie's Almanack to Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, emphasizing how maxims make practical ideas memorable and reusable.
• Sidney Harman (Founder of Harman Kardon) — David identifies Sidney Harman's concluding 'Sidney's Almanac' as part of the naming and maxims tradition that runs through Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack and Charlie Munger's almanac.
• Ben Franklin and George Washington: The Founding Partnership — David describes Franklin's annual almanac as witty commentary and practical advice with remarkable reach, then quotes its enduring instruction to use industry and frugality and waste neither time nor money.
• Charlie Munger (Poor Charlie's Almanack) — David reads Buffett's comparison between Franklin and Munger, naming thrift, duty, hard work, and simplicity, then later uses Franklin's maxim about appealing to interest to explain the power of incentives.